234 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
A LYRIC FOR CHRISTMAS. 
Seidlitz Powders.—These produce an ef- 
ervescing drink, frequently recommended 
for its medicinal properties. It is really a 
dose of Rochelle salts, taken in soda-water. 
They are usually prepared as follows : Into 
a white paper is put 120 grains of Rochelle 
salts, mingled with 40 grains of bicarbonate 
of soda; and in a blue paper, 25 grains of 
tartaric acid. The contents of the white 
paper are dissolved in a tumbler two-thirds 
filled with water. The acid in the blue paper 
is then stirred in rapidly, and the whole 
drank quickly. The soda and acid produce 
the carbonic acid gas, and this, together with 
the slighffexcess of acid added, disguises the 
taste of the Rochelle salt, which is a mild 
cathartic. 
Congress Water, &c.—Water in various 
springs contain condensed gases of some 
kind when they first boil up from the earth, 
and at some of them the water is bottled be¬ 
fore the escape of the gases, and sent around 
the country and sold as healthful drinks. 
The water from the Congress Spring, so 
named, at Saratoga, N. Y., has acquired a 
wide notoriety as a > healthful drink. This 
and most springs of the kind contain small 
portions of iron or other salts, which are 
sometimes beneficial, though, doubtless, 
much of the good results experienced from 
their use is to be ascribed to the imagina¬ 
tion, which is of itself one of the best medi¬ 
cines, for, very often, in regard to health as 
in other things, “ as a man thinketh so is 
he.” 
We hope all the boys who read our paper 
will secure a library of their own by acting 
as agents for the American Agriculturist. 
They will see by referring to the premium 
lists on pages 232 and 236, that they can get a 
lot of books delivered to them free of ex¬ 
pense by hunting up a few new subscribers 
to this paper. If they get but one subscriber 
and chose Norton’s Scientific Agriculture, 
they will find themselves amply repaid for a 
whole day’s work or more. So we might, 
say of the other books. 
SIR ISAAC NEWTON-AN EXAMPLE FOR BOYS. 
In the middle of the seventeenth century 
there was an English boy of mean and di¬ 
minutive appearance, and behind all other 
boys of his age. He was constantly at the 
foot of his class, and verily it was believed 
that this boy would become only a bungler 
of some kind, for surely the soul of learning 
was not in him. 
At the age of twelve a change was wrought 
in the character and fortune of the youth that 
had never obtained a“ reward of merit,” and 
was regarded by teacher and schoolmaster 
as an inferior. At this time an altercation 
took place between this backward boy and 
the one above him in the class, whereupon the 
latter treated him with indignity and vio¬ 
lence. 
The pride of the boy was outraged. He 
could not revenge the insult by a blow, be¬ 
cause he was too weak to cope with his op¬ 
ponent physically. How, then, shall he 
humble his assailant ? He resolved to sur¬ 
pass him in study, to get above him in the 
class and there remain, to look down upon 
his enemy, and clip from him the laurels he 
so indiscreetly wears. He resolved—ac¬ 
complished ; became a most devoted scholar; 
commenced a career of glory; and Sir Isaac 
Newton appeared with a key to unlock the 
mysteries of motion and to draft a true chart 
of the stupendous universe. 
Scientific American. 
DON'T BE TOO CERTAIN. 
Aye, now boys don’t be too certain. Re¬ 
member that nothing is easier than to be 
mistaken. And if you permit yourself to be 
mistaken a great many times, everyone will 
lose confidence in what you say. Never 
make a positive statement, without you 
know it is as you say. If you do have any 
doubts, remove them by examination, before 
speaking confidently. Don't be too certain. 
“ John, where is the hammer ?” 
“ It is in the corn-house.” 
“ No, it is not there. I have just been 
looking there.” 
“ Well, I know it is there ; I saw it there 
not half an hour ago.” 
*• If you saw it there it. must be there of 
course. But suppose you go and fetch it.” 
John goes to the corn-house, and present¬ 
ly returns with a small axe in his hand. 
“ 0, it was the axe I saw. The handle was 
sticking out from a half bushel measure. I 
thought it was the hammer.” 
“ Well, don’t be too certain another time.” 
“ Yes, father, but I did really think I saw 
it, or I should not have said so.” 
“ But you said positively that you did see 
it, and not that you thought you saw it. 
There is a great difference between the two 
answers. Do not permit yourself to make a 
positive statement, even about small matters, 
unless you are quite sure ; for if you do, you 
will find the habit growing upon you, and 
bye and bye you will begin to make loose re¬ 
plies to questions of great, importance. Don't 
be too cettain. 
John wandered off to the house, trying to 
convince himself he was in the right after 
all. 
His father had given him a pretty wooden 
snow-shovel, the winter before, and John 
had taken great delight in shoveling the 
clean, white snow, during the winter. 
It was now the middle of April. The sun 
shone warm, and the birds sang gaily in the 
trees. John shouldered his pretty shovel, 
and was inarching off with it. 
“ What are you going to do with your 
snow-shovel John,” said his grandmother. 
“ I’m going to put it away in the barn, for 
the summer, so that it. needn’t get broke.” 
“ Seems to me I would not put it away 
just yet! We may have more snow pretty 
soon.” 
“ 0 ! fiddle-de-de ! we shall not have any 
more snow this winter; I’m sure of that. 
Don’t, you see how warm it is 1 The lilacs 
have all budded, the peas have come up, and 
the robins and martins are singing about. I 
know it won’t snow any more.” 
“ Well, perhaps it will not,” said his grand¬ 
mother, “ but. don’t be too certain ; it looks 
like a storm now.” 
“ Don't be too certain." The words rang in 
John’s ears; bur he carried on his shovel, 
and stowed it away carefully in the barn. 
The next morning what was his astonish¬ 
ment to see the ground white with snow, 
and the storm violently beating against his 
window. It continued to snow all day long, 
and the next morning it lay in great, drifts 
around the house. 
John waded down to the barn for his 
shovel, and soon cleared the paths of snow. 
W’hen he came to his breakfast, he declared 
he would not put away his shovel again till 
the first of July. [Monthly Instructor. 
I love'these merry festive times, and all the joys they 
bring, 
The good old tales which now we tell, the good old songs 
we sing, 
The good old social meeting round the good old people’s 
board, 
The good old fare and rich old wine the good old stores 
afford; 
Oh! yes, these pleasant Christmas times can pleasure still 
bestow, 
As in sweet childhood’s happy years, a long time ago. 
I love to see young hearts rejoice and still unaltered prove, 
The homely happy circle join in holy peace and love, 
Old friends recalling good old times and good old com¬ 
rades gone, 
With fine old port, till night grows old, beside the old 
hearthstone ; 
Oh ! yes, these social Christmas times can pleasure still 
bestow, 
As in sweet childhood’s happy years, a long time ago. 
I love to see the rosy boy returning to his home, 
To ramble near the mountain stream and o’er the hills to 
roam ; 
I love to seethe ivy branch and green old holly bough, 
And hear, as in my early days, the Christmas carol now; 
Oh ! yes, these jocund Christmas times can pleasure still 
bestow, 
As in sweet childhood’s happy years, a longtime ago. 
f love to hear the church-bells call the Christian flock to 
pray, 
To praise and bless, and honor Him who sanctified the 
day; 
And may each Christmas festival, where’er man’s feet 
have trod, 
Be found a Star of Bethlehem, to guide him to his God ; 
Oh! yes, the sacred Christmas times can pleasure still 
bestow, 
As in svveet childhood’s purer years, a long time ago. 
MATRIMONY. 
Some “ growling old batch.” conjured up the 
the following. However, its all right, in our 
opinion, if you read the first and third and then 
second and fourth lines of each verse : 
1. The man must lead a happy life, 
2. Who’s free from matrimonial chains ; 
3. Who is directed by his wife, 
4. Is sure to suffer for his pains. 
1. Adam could find no solid peace, 
2. When Eve was given for a mate ; 
3. Until he saw a woman’s face, 
4. Adam was in a happy state. 
1. In all the female face appears 
2. Hypocrisy, deceit and pride ; 
3. Truth, darling of a heart sincere, 
4. Ne’er known in woman to reside. 
1. What tongue is able to unfold, 
2. The falsehood that in woman dwells ; 
3. The worth in w T oman we behold, 
4. Is almost imperceptible. 
1. Cursed be the foolish man, I say, 
2. Who changes from his singleness ; 
3. Who will not yield to woman’s way, 
4. Is sure of perfect blessedness. 
A Word to Little Girls. —Who is love¬ 
ly? It is the girl who drops sweet words* 
kind remarks, and pleasant smiles, as she 
passes along—who has a word of sympathy 
for every girl or boy she meets in trouble, 
and a kind hand to help her companions out 
of difficulty—who never scolds, never con¬ 
tends, never teases her mother, nor seeks in 
any way to diminish, but always to increase 
her happiness. Would it not please you to 
pick up a string of pearls, drops of gold, dia¬ 
monds, or precious stones, as you pass 
along the street ? But these are the pre¬ 
cious stones that can never be lost. Take 
the hand of the friendlees. Sympathize 
with-those in trouble. Strive every where 
